Chapter 1: The Mark on Her Wrist
The grand ballroom of the Hawthorne Estate glittered with wealth.
Crystal chandeliers reflected across polished marble floors. Politicians, executives, and socialites filled the room, celebrating the eighth birthday of little Charlotte Hawthorne, the only daughter of billionaire investor Richard Hawthorne.
Laughter echoed through the hall.
Until a glass of fruit punch slipped from Charlotte’s hands.
The red liquid splashed across her white dress.
"Oh, sweetheart," her stepmother, Monica, sighed impatiently. "Look what you've done."
Charlotte immediately lowered her head.
"Sorry."
Before Monica could say anything else, a maid hurried forward.
"I'll clean it, ma'am."
Her name was Elena Reyes.
She had worked at the estate for six months.
Quiet.
Hardworking.
Invisible.
Exactly how wealthy families preferred their staff.
Elena knelt beside Charlotte and gently dabbed the stain with a cloth.
"It's okay," she whispered.
Charlotte offered a shy smile.
Then Elena noticed something.
The sleeve of the little girl's dress had slipped upward.
A tiny birthmark rested on her wrist.
A small crescent moon.
Elena froze.
The cloth fell from her hand.
Her entire body began trembling.
"No..." she whispered.
Charlotte blinked.
"Miss Elena?"
Tears suddenly filled the maid's eyes.
Within seconds she was crying so hard she could barely breathe.
The guests stared.
Monica frowned.
"What is wrong with you?"
But Elena wasn't looking at her.
She couldn't.
Her eyes remained locked on the mark.
The tiny crescent moon.
The same mark she had kissed a thousand times before.
May you like
The same mark her baby daughter had carried.
The daughter she believed had died seven years ago.
